Simeulue Parrot
Psittinus abbotti
Large-headed and short-tailed parrot with a comically bulbous bill, endemic to Simeulue and Siumat. Male is green with a bright orange bill and a powder-blue head and rump. Female is brown-headed with a dark bill. Usually moves in mid-sized flocks through forests and forest edge. Does not sound as cacophonous and unpleasant as many parrots; gives rather musical whistled notes.
Identification
The Simeulue parrot is a small, short-tailed bird of stocky build, measuring approximately 19 cm. It has a bright green colouration, which in adult males is accented by a blue face with a green crown and a black collar. It differs from the blue-rumped parrot in its larger size, the lack of grey mantle and back, lack of blue rump, green instead of brown head colouration in the female, and blue head colouration in the male.
Taxonomy
Genus: Psittinus; Family: Psittaculidae; Order: Psittaciformes.
- Scientific name
- Psittinus abbotti
- Authority
- Richmond, 1902
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Psittinus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Scaly-breasted Partridge
Tropicoperdix chloropus
A cryptically-colored ground-dweller without the bright colors and bold head patterns boasted by many of its relatives. Mottled brown overall with a grayish-white face and a speckled orange throat. Forages in dense undergrowth like other partridges, usually in mature foothill and lowland forest. Listen for its song, a series of ascending breathy whistles which culminate in an echoing series of ringing notes. As with many other forest gamebirds, very difficult to see in general; most likely encountered at staked-out blinds, or, if one is lucky, walking quietly along roadsides and clearings at dusk and dawn.
Lineated Woodpecker
Dryocopus lineatus
Large ‘woody woodpecker’ of tropical forest in lowlands and foothills. Also ranges into semi-open areas with tall trees, mangroves, and other lightly wooded habitats. The tufted red crest and black face distinguish it from adult Pale-billed Woodpecker, which often occurs in the same areas. Also note that the white ‘braces’ on the back of Lineated are widely spaced, unlike Pale-billed. Laughing call suggests a flicker, and very unlike calls of Pale-billed.
Ancient Antwren
Herpsilochmus gentryi
This antwren is known only from a small area in northeastern Peru and adjacent border areas of Ecuador. It is confined to rainforest that grows in nutrient-poor soils with a specific mineral composition. Note the yellowish underparts, black crown and black eye-stripe separated by a pale eyebrow, and bold white wingbars and tail edges. Similar to Dugand’s Antwren, but male has yellowish underparts and female has a black (not brown) crown. Stays quite high in the trees and often joins mixed-species flocks. Song is decelerating series of notes that rises and then falls.
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